Remember "meat martinis"? An appetizer of steak tartare served in a cocktail glass.I think there were lots of other unusual snacks served in martini glasses, back in the '90s. But now... so uncool.
I even read a snark recently about the dumb old tradition on a blog somewhere. Can't remember, but boy, am I embarrassed. You know, because... Well, look at the picture.
Uncool.
Anyway, it was a pseudo-ceviche of smoked salmon, tossed with diced watermelon, seasoned with lime, shallot, cilantro and (homegrown!) chile powder. Really tasty, even if it evoked a tired old something or other.
Why does food go out of style?
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21 comments:
but... ceviche is still hip, especially if you say it's peruvian! :D
and if you call it crudo, you're extra for experts.
"Crudo"
I cry.
Thanks.
I had an amazing Cuban ceviche a few weeks ago (what made it Cuban, I have no clue). Tragically, it was also served in a martini glass.
The memory of the meat cocktail completely eludes me. I was so broke in the 90's I never went out to eat. But now that I know I missed this proto-douchebag food, I am thanking my lucky stars I was poor.
Food may go out of style but never fear, it will always come back in. Well, except for Honeyed Doormice, I do hope that never comes back, poor wee things.
(PS - I still eat sundried tomatoes, passé than just about anything!)
If it tastes good, and you enjoyed it, who cares? There's a reason things are "in style" (and thusly go out of style), and that's because they are a good idea. Pesto, a good idea, universally hip at once time, but no more. I still eat it.
You know, I wonder sometimes, when I'm exclaiming over some fine and "interesting" creation in a restaurant - is this going to be to my 40s what that rust-colored jumpsuit was to my 'teens?
As far as the martini glass goes - don't they still use that even at Destino? Maybe we can all compromise: we'll live with it for the ceviche, but as a vessel for prawn cocktail - punishable by eating the damned pineapple (including rind) that you stuck with ham-cubes-on-a-toothpick.
BTW, I was a kid in Marin in the '70s. My mother's most elegantest hors d'oeuvre was to fan out steamed artichoke leaves, put a dollop of mayo on the tip of each, and lay atop the mayo...a single bay shrimp. Oooo, sophisticated! (She even had a large artichoke candle for the middle of the platter.)
Actually, I liked the picture and thought it a pretty presentation for the ceviche. Guess I'm old-fashioned and uncool. Oh, well...
I have a hot button with martini glasses. When I was bartending the darn chefs were always stealing mine.Leave my glassware alone!
oh how i disagree
that is way cool
what is uncool is that i don't have any...
Food shouldn't go out of style, really, and I'm oh-so sad that it does. I know using a crock-pot isn't so hip anymore, but I still use one!!! I'm so unstylish :). I love that you used watermelon in this!
Ilex: Was it smoking a cigar? :D
Speaking of smoke, I forgot to mention I sprinkled a bit of alderwood smoked salt on this dish... Mm!
Ms. Mouse: I want honeyed doormice. Do I? Don't I?
And... I sun-dry my own tomatoes, because I am a frump.
Roxie: That is mostly, vastly true. Besides, how else would mac'n'cheese have come back into fashion? Plus, there's homemade pesto in my freezer.
Limoncello: Rust colored jumpsuit? Ohgod, we need an intervention.
I Lrve your mom's appetizer! Not that I'll ever do it, but So Cute.
Zoomie: You're the coolest cat I know. Purr!
Greg: Also, I hear that martini glasses are really breakable... The one I used, by the way, is etched with Herb Caen's signature, and that is Awesome.
ceF: You need to try a different glass shape. Champagne flute?
Sophie: Pinky shake!! I have FOUR crockpots, and use them constantly.
you do not want to eat doormice, you want to watch them sleep the winter away in little coconuts.
mmmm watermelon and salmon, now that sounds like a happening pairing no matter what you put it in. I'm really passe as I still like making layered parfaits in drink glasses...
I'd say you just brought it back into style!
Morgan: No, I really don't think I want to eat them. But! Yes, I want to watch them sleep in coconut shells. Do you write children's books?
Anna: Actually, layered in glasses seems to be the cool thing right now, if it's not suddenly out already. You are hip, doll.
Lannae: Well, everybody seems to like it, so let's keep it happening!! Ring a ding, ding. To quote Frank Sinatra. heh.
I have rather a soft spt for food in martini glasses. Who's to say it is out of style if we say it is IN?
Sam: Oh, yay. Then we're still cool. Whew! ;)
Food goes out of style because otherwise all the wretched magazines wouldn't have anything to write about.
Fondue, anyone?
Peter: I have to agree with you. I guess a better question would be "Why does some food come INTO fashion?" Blackened redfish, gah!
And... you should see my fondue pot. A thing of beauty, genuinely.
That whole 90's maritini thing just passed my by. Mon mari has been drinking them for more years than we care to remember.....
Raw meat in a martini glass? Was someone trying to hard?
This looks so good that I drooled, ever so slightly, on my keyboard. And shucks, it was a beautiful presentation. Food trends cycle so often that in a few years you will see everything back in the martini glass once more, and there is no shame in that.
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